Cardinals crush Pirates hopes for a series sweep

Bucs still lead Central division after Redbird rout

Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez reacts after St. Louis scores on a wild pitch.

SOURCE: Root Sports

Cardinals crush Pirates hopes for a series sweep

Bucs still lead Central division after Redbird rout

Updated: 10:47 PM EDT Aug 1, 2013

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PITTSBURGH —

Joe Kelly and the St. Louis Cardinals averted a five-game sweep at Pittsburgh, ending a season-worst seven-game losing streak by routing the Pirates 13-0 Thursday night in a matchup between the NL's top two teams.

St. Louis began the series with a 2½-game lead in the NL Central but left with the Pirates ahead by 1½ games. The Cardinals avoided their first sweep in a set of at least five games since 1916, when the New York Giants took all six games.

Kelly (2-3) pitched six scoreless innings and had two hits. Tony Cruz added three hits, including a two-run double during an eight-run seventh inning.